Recently I made contact with a newfound cousin on the Edwardson side of the family. This cousin has been researching family history for over 35 years and has amassed a collection of family documents and photographs.

I look forward to many conversations with her about the family history in the near future. This week, an email conversation ensued about the details of the birth of Marie Edwardson, which I summarize here.

The birth of Marie Edwardson has been a mystery to the family. Her granddaughters heard from another cousin that she was born on Ellis Island, but a search in the Ellis Island records was fruitless. Marie’s children had at one time attempted to find a birth certificate for her, but that search was unsuccessful as well.

Our newfound cousin (who I will call cousin L) shed some light on this mystery: Marie Edwardson (called “Aunt Mary” by cousin L) was born on the ship as it entered Boston Harbor. Family lore has it that the ship was the Star Line, from Bergan, Norway, via Liverpool, England. As for Marie’s birth certificate, cousin L said at one time in her life Marie had to show an entry of her birth in the family Bible to obtain a birth certificate.

The birth date cousin L has on family documents is 5 May 1885, which “coincides with the family’s arrival in America.”

A family member passed on to me copies of a search for Marie’s birth through the City of New York Bureau of Vital Records and Statistics. There is a handwritten letter:

“Dear Sir –

Will you please see if you find the birth record of Engerberg Marie Edwardson Born May 2, 1885 on English Boat in New York Harbor. Parents Lars T Edwardson, Annie Larson Edwardson, Norway. If found will you please send me the birth certificate and the charge, and I will send a check by return mail. Thank you. Marie E Frost.”

The returned document is dated May 26, 1943, and states:

“This is to certify that a search was made of the records of BIRTHS in the Borough of Manhattan for the calendar years 1885 and 1886 for the name of Engerberg Marie Edwardson who is said to have been born on the 2 day of May, 1885 and the name was NOT FOUND.

Thomas J. Duffield, Registrar of Records.

Information supplied by the applicant for the purpose of identifying the proper record. (See other side)

Father’s name: Lars Edwardson

Mother’s maiden name: Annie Larson

Place of birth: English boat, Cunard Line, New York Harbor. “

Another document, passed on to me, that was handwritten by a family historian shows:

So between the two branches of the family, there are discrepancies in the day of birth (2nd or 5th?), year of birth (1883, 1885, or 1886?), place of birth (NY Harbor or Boston Harbor; Cunard Line or Star Line), and to which port the family actually arrived (New York or Boston).

Perhaps a search for naturalization papers will shed some light on the birth of Engerberg Marie Edwardson, a.k.a. Aunt Mary.

This week’s Fab Finds is dedicated to videos since there are so many this week, including quite a few about the 1940 census and indexing tips.

Videos – 1940 Census and Indexing Tips

Thanks to Kathryn Doyle of the California Genealogical Society and Library for bringing this video to my attention on Google plus. “Revealing Grandma’s Secrets” is about the 1940 census … as of this posting there are only 15 days to go!

DearMYRTLE gives us a video about the community project of indexing the 1940 census. She describes the indexing process, including arbitration for discrepancies, along with information about the 1940 census. There are 132 million names in the census and 1 million genealogists can complete the project in 29 days if each indexes 10 names per day. Sign up to index today: www.the1940census.com.